The Circus just cant leave Smiley alone. He is coaxed back from retirement to track down his old nemesis Karla. Its a merry chase all over Europe before this is resolved. This is the final chapter in Smileys quest for Karla, the ultimate Russian spy. (If you havent, read Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy and The Honorable Schoolboy.)
My favorite of Le Carre's books and the one that got me addicted to his words. The ultimate in spy stories, with characters as human as your next door neighbor. Sometimes it breaks your heart